Reader Feedback: School Budget Issues

Adopted School Budget: What's your opinion?

On what the thought of the school district's.

Rich commented that the board's decisions within the budget have created a rift in the community, favoring sports over academics and extracurricular programs.

"Unfortunately this years budget has really divided the community," he wrote. "Fairness is important and all students are important. And all activities and programs are important."

In particular, Rich focused on the reduction of the BOCES programs vs. the preservation of all sports programs.

"The budget also cuts the number of students who can enroll in our BOCES program. BOCES can be a crucial step towards a career for students not going to college," he wrote. "But the good news is that we have been assured by our BOE that no cuts will be made to any of our athletic programs. It is nice to know that at least our BOE, our Superintendent and our School District have their priorities in order."

Commentor Wendy Regan also expressed concern over growing class sizes due to cuts, despite Superintendent Rich Simon saying the budget held the line on class size.

"The proposed budget has my son's 'projected' class size increasing by 5 students! An increase of 5 students is not “holding the line on class size”, it’s an INCREASE of 5 students!"

Didn't get a chance to weigh in the first time? Comment and let your neighbors know if you agree or disagree with their opinions on the budget.